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Arjuna to go after SA series
COLOMBO. July 20; Srl Lanka's Arjuna Ranatunga. who led the country to a cricket World Cup
victory four years ago. announced his retirement Thursday. exactly a year after he was sacked as team captain, reports AFP.
Ranatunga. 36. said it was difficult for him to retire from cricket after completing the current three-Test series against South Africa under the captaincy of the younger Sanath Jayasuriya.
’’This has been a painful decision.’’ he said in a letter to (he Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka. ”1 arrived at it after a great deal of consideration and thought."
His team went from World Cup tops in 1996 to World Cup flops in 1999 with fans turning angry over his performance and blaming him for not quitting earlier with honour and dignity.
From the most successful of captains, he fell from grace m overnight despite an impre^-ive
10 years leading the Sri Lankan M team. H
Ranatunga has captained Sri I Lanka in 193 one-dav matches. ■ He won 89. lost 95 with eight H ending in no result and one tie. H
He has played a total of 91 ™ Test matches, being captain in sg 56 of them to win 12. lose 19 and draw 25.
During the World Cup last year. Ranatunga crossed swords with his chief bugbear. Shane Warne, who said Ranatunga should leave the game.
Ranatunga might be a shrewd, experienced leader, but his batting is not what it was and he is terrible in the field.' Warne said. "Frankly. Sri Lanka — and the game overall — would be better off without him.
Yes. there is plenty of animosity between Ranatunga and myself. I don't like him and I m not in a club of one."
Ranatunga. speaking after his reigning champions had lost the opening match of the World Cup to England said: "I m not really worried what they say It shows more about Shane Warne and Australian culture rather than about me and our culture.
'We have a culture that is 2.500 years old — I think we all know where they (Australians) I come from."
Last year. Ranatunga made | it clear that he wished to stay on in the team: What I do wish to say is that it is my firm belief that 1 do have a few years of cricket left in me and if my services are wanted I am willing to represent my country in whatever capacity."
In the recently concluded Test series against Pakistan In June. Ranatunga became the first player in the history of the game to appear for his country in its Inaugural Test and its 100th Test.
Ranatunga made his Test debut while still a student at Srt Lankas prestigious Ananda College at the age of 18. against England at the Saravanamuttu Stadium in February- 1982
He lcored h‘s country's maiden Test fifty ln that game
Since then he has played a major role in the development and success of Sri Lanka cricket internationally. His most cherished moment was undoubtedly leading his country to win the World dip In 1996.
A left-hand batsman of immense talent, Ranatunga became a vital cog in the Sri Lanka team.
He is the nation's second highest run-getter, behind his one-time deputy Aravinda de Silva, with nearly 5,000 runs at | an average of 35.
He made four centuries, all at home, the highest of which was an unbeaten 135 against Pakistan at the Saravanarnuttu Stadium in 1985-86.
Ranatunga and De Silva were the pillars of Srl Lanka cricket through good and bad times, dominating the scene for nearly two decades.
Of the 269 appearances he made for his country in one-day internationals, Ranatunga scored 7,456 runs at an average of 35.84 with four centuries.
Two of his brothers played Test cricket for Srl Lanka. Elder brother Dhammlka, who is the chief executive of the cricket board, played in two Tests and younger brother Sanjeeva appeared for the country In nine.
A third. Nishantha played one-day internationals.
Ranatunga may well pursue a career In politics
He has been hinting at following in the footsteps of his father. who Is a deputy minister for sports while an elder brother is also In politics.